harris



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0.3. HARRIS,

METHOD OF MAKING INOANDESG-INGV ELEMENTS FOR-GAS BURNERSf No. 441,553. Patented Nov. 25, 1890.

UNITED STATES;

CHARLES B. HARRIS,

PATENT OFFICE. E

OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF MAKING INCANDESCING ELEMENTS FOR GAS-BURNERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 441,553, dated November 25, 1890.

Application filed June 4, 1890. Serial No. 354,274. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of Making Incandescing Elements for Gas Burners, of which the following is a specification.

In Letters Patent of the United States, granted to me August 20, 1889, numbered 409,607, I have described a method of making incandescing elements for gas-burners in which the refractory material is first mixed with a suitable binding agent, then rolled into sheets, then cut or punched to form the desired design, and then fired to burn out the binding material.

The incandescing elements shown in the patent above mentioned are attached to a frame that is in turn secured to devices for supporting it on a gas-burner. I find that such elements of an improved form may be made by a much simpler method, which con sists in preparing a compound of refractory material and a binding material, then forc ing the material into a suitably-shaped die and compressing and shaping it therein, and then firing the element thus formed to burn out the binding material. By this method the step of rolling is dispensed with, and the material, which is preferably in a powdered form, may be placed in a die and by one operation of the press given the desired shape and compactness to form the incandescing element. Afterward the binding agent is burned out. The completed element is composed entirely of refractory material.

I prefer to make the incandescing elements with numerous openings or interstices, with all the threads, pencils, or filaments formed integrally with a common frame. The element is also preferably formed with arms or projections, by means of which it can be read ily attached to a support on the gasburner.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown apparatus for practicing my novel method, and have also shown the incandescing elements in different stages of manufacture.

Figurel isavertical section of the female die, with the male die in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the female die. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the incandescing elements; Fig. 5, a view of a blank for an element such as shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 6, a perspective view of an element made from a same apparatus, the section being taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a female die adapted to form incandescing pencils enlarged at one end, and Fig. 12 shows views of different forms of incandescing elements.

In carrying out my invention I preferably mix with some refractory material-such as magnesia or magnesia and strontia-a binding agent or vehicle-such as glue or starchand then with this material fill a female die, such, for instance, as that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Before proceeding further I will describe the apparatus shown in these figures.

\Vhen compressing the material, the dieplate A is supported on a bed-plate O, as shown in Fig. 7. The die-plate has openings through it corresponding-in shape to the elements to be formed. In the instance shown in Fig. 3 the die is comb-shaped, consisting of parallel slots a, separated by narrow partitions a and a wider transverse opening I), with which the slots a communicate. The opening 12 extends across the top of all the slots and also beyond them on each side to form supporting-arms on the element by which it may be readily attached to a gasburner. The arrangementis such as will be clear from inspection of the drawings that the element may be formed in one piece, the pencils being united with the head-piece in the process of manufacture. The openings C6 and I) extend entirely through the die-plate; but while'the elements are being formed the bottom of the die is closed by a closing-plate E, corresponding in form with the openings 0. and Z) and extending part way into them. When the closing-plate is inserted intothe die, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and when the compressing operation is being performed, the plate is supported on the bed-plate C. The male die H corresponds in shape with the female die A and is adapted to pass through it. The die H is operated by a press of any suitable construction. When the element has been suificiently compressed, it is removed from the die by mounting the die-plate on blocks or beams B, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 9, and 10. The beams B have posts D, which extend through holes in the die-plate and hold it in position, leaving a clear space between the die-plate and the bed-plate. Pins or posts G, projecting upwardly from the bed-plate, reach to the under side of the partitions a between the slots at and support them during the operation of forming the elements.

Returning now to the desoriptionof the method of making the element, the material, which is preferably in a powdered state, having been made to fill the female die above the closing-plate E and the surplus material brushed away, the die H is made to descend and compress the refractory material in the die A. By one operation of the press the material is formed into shape and given the requisite compactness. By removing the plate A from the bed-plate and mounting it on supports B, as above described, the element may be forced out and then tired to burn out the binding agent.

An incandescent element, such as shown in Fig. 5, with numerous perforations and a solid .frame around them, may be formed in a similar manner, the dies being suitably shaped. An element of a conical shape, such as shown inFig. 6, may be formed from a blank, like that shown in Fig. 5, by bending it around a former before firing.

In Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, the dies are shown as of a suitable shape to form single bars or pencils with slight enlargements at one end, enabling them to be readily attached to a common support. Elements U or hook shaped, such as shown in Fig. 12, may also be formed in a similar way.

In the drawings,

X indicates the incandescing elements. It

will be observed that the elements shown in Figs. 4 and 12 are provided with projections cc, by means of which they may be readily attached to a support. For instance, the projections w, in Fig. 4, may be supported or hung on horizontal arms projecting from a bracket on a gas-burner. The element shown in Fig.12 may be strung in series on a horizontal rod.

The apparatus shown and described, while simple and efficient, may be Varied, and the method may be practiced by other apparatus than that herein shown.

In practice I usually employ about ten per cent. of binding material. This gives apowder of the proper character from which good results are obtained. This proportion is mentioned, however, as an illustration, and I do not limit myself to it.

The burning of the pencils after they are removed from the dies is accomplished in the manner usually practiced in this art--that is to say, they are placed in a closed furnace or crucible and subjected to a high heat, which eliminates the binding material and hardens the pencils, which are subsequently suspended in a gas-flame in any suitable manner.

I claim as my invention- The method of forming incandescing elements for gas-burners, which consists in preparing a powdered compound of refractory material-such, for instance, as magnesiaand a binding agent, compressing this compound while in the condition of a powder in a closed die to give it the desired shape and compactness, and afterward burning the elements thus produced to remove the binding agent and prepare the element for suspension in the flame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES E. HARRIS. W'itnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, EDWARD O. DAVIDSON. 

